1. We have no intention to interfere with the film festival’s freedom to facilitate artistic communication. It is our way of self-discipline to withdraw from the Melbourne Film Festival. I’m not an expert at Xinjiang history, but since it is only two weeks after the Urumqi riots, I think we should at least be cautious not to offend the victims.

2. The political inclination of the Melbourne Film Festival this year is getting stronger.  First, it was the British director Ken Loach who questioned the funding of the festival, accusing them of using blood money. Then Ten Conditions of Love, a documentary about Rebiya Kadeer, appeared on the program list. They even organized a series of activities for her.

3. We think attending the same event with Rebiya Kadeer contains political meanings. It is emotionally intolerable and practically inappropriate. So the staff of Xstream Pictures agreed to withdraw from the festival to show our attitude and stance.

4. On July 19, our company representative Zhou Qiang (Chow Keung) wrote to the president of Melbourne Film Festival, announcing that two films from XStream Pictures: “Cry Me a River” and A Perfect Life will withdraw from the festival. Director Emily Tang Xiaobai and producer Zhou Qiang (Chow Keung) also canceled their plans to attend the festival.

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The three films in question are Emily Tang’s A Perfect Life, Zhao Liang’s documentary Petition (which premiered at Cannes in May), and Jia Zhangke’s short film Cry Me a River.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Kadeer has widely been blamed by Beijing for inciting this month’s ethnic riots, which left at least 156 dead, mostly Han Chinese, in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

Festival organizer Richard Moore told The Hollywood Reporter that the filmmakers objected to the presence of Kadeer at the festival and the inclusion of “10 Conditions” in the program.

On July 15, Moore received a call from Chinese consular staff in Melbourne demanding that “10 Conditions” be withdrawn ahead of its Aug. 8 premiere and wanting justification for its inclusion.

Moore reiterated on Tuesday that MIFF continues to stand by its decision to program the film.

“As a festival we continue to aim to support a plurality of views and are disappointed that this action has been taken,” he said.”

Read the full article.

The Age in Australia reports:

Festival director Richard Moore said yesterday it was a major disruption and uncalled for.

“I am obviously upset because we have supported the work of these filmmakers in the past,” he said. “People get passionate about their films every year but this … I wasn’t expecting this amount of dissent from outside forces.”

Asked whether he believed Chinese filmmakers had been pressured to withdraw by the Chinese Government, Mr Moore, said it was extremely sensitive: “I can’t comment further.”

Read the full article.

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